Summer is approaching, bringing with it uncomfortable heat that can even lead to heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heat shock… However, there is a summer drink that can help you cope with the sweltering heat instantly: sugarcane juice.
What You Need to Know About Sugarcane Juice
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, sugarcane is known as “Tang Zhi Fu Mai” – meaning a remedy for anemia, characterized by its sweet taste and cooling properties. Sugarcane nourishes the yin, supports blood production, strengthens muscles and bones, calms the mind, dispels phlegm heat, relieves vomiting, harmonizes the stomach, and alleviates irritability.
According to Dr. Huỳnh Tấn Vũ, a lecturer at the Traditional Medicine Department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, sugarcane is also known as the sweet potato plant. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, sugarcane is referred to as “Tang Zhi Fu Mai” for its cooling properties, used to relieve heat, treat fatigue, cough, asthma, vomiting, anxiety, and mental instability.
In modern medicine, sugarcane juice is rich in nutrients, including sucrose, calcium, chromium, zinc, vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C), phytonutrients, antioxidants, proteins, and soluble fibers essential for the body.
Sugarcane juice not only tastes great but also provides energy and helps prevent certain diseases. It is a rich source of essential minerals and vitamins required by the body. Additionally, it contains small amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, thiamine, and riboflavin.
The main component of sugarcane is sucrose, along with carbohydrates and essential amino acids, which play a crucial role in supplementing the body’s nutrients.
Benefits of Sugarcane Juice
Reduces Stress and Fatigue
The glucose content in sugarcane helps replenish and restore energy, reducing fatigue and enhancing alertness.
Choose sugarcane juice for its natural benefits instead of energy drinks that contain stimulants, keeping your body healthy and effectively hydrated.
Athletes and those engaged in heavy labor should regularly drink sugarcane juice to replenish energy promptly for their activities.
Despite its sweetness from high sugar content, sugarcane juice can be beneficial for diabetics who can consume it during hot weather to enhance natural health.
Sugarcane juice contains high levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and manganese…
Hydrates the Body
The summer heat causes our bodies to lose more water; however, sugarcane juice helps prevent dehydration during the hot months.
Rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and manganese, sugarcane juice provides the body with water and electrolytes to combat the summer heat.
Fights Sore Throat
Regularly drinking sugarcane juice helps you stay away from ailments like sore throat, colds, and flu.
If you encounter these issues, sugarcane juice is an effective remedy regardless of the season.
Sugarcane juice moisturizes the body, treats kidney stones, diabetes, jaundice, flu, sore throat, and prevents cancer.
Beauty Benefits
If you suffer from skin inflammation, roast purple sugarcane until it turns to ash, grind it finely, then mix it with sesame oil and apply it to the skin. When your lips or mouth are cracked, use sugarcane juice topically while drinking it.
Moreover, sugarcane juice is effective for weight loss among women. Applying clean sugarcane juice to the upper and lower eyelids or using a clean gauze soaked in sugarcane juice over the eyes can reduce puffiness and inflammation.
Alpha hydroxy acids (also known as AHAs) are nutrients that provide many skin benefits, preventing acne, reducing swelling, preventing aging, and moisturizing the skin, thus drinking sugarcane juice daily helps maintain healthy skin.
Supports Digestion
One of the benefits of sugarcane juice is aiding digestion, as it contains a large amount of potassium that neutralizes acid. Additionally, potassium has antibiotic properties, protecting your stomach from infections and enhancing motility.
Helps Combat Bad Breath and Common Infections
Due to its high mineral content, potassium, and alkaline properties, sugarcane creates an effective antibacterial agent. The minerals in sugarcane keep teeth strong and prevent cavities caused by infections.
One of the benefits of sugarcane juice is aiding digestion.
Keeps Your Liver Healthy
Sugarcane is known to help regulate bilirubin levels, which is one reason this juice is used in Ayurveda to treat conditions like jaundice. Additionally, sugarcane protects the liver. According to the Asian Journal of Functional Foods, sugarcane juice helps protect the liver from damage and acts as a remedy for injured livers.
Fights Cancer
Sugarcane is rich in antioxidants that have a strong effect on the body. According to a study published in the Journal of Plant Chemistry, the flavonoids found in sugarcane juice are highly effective in preventing the production and spread of cancer cells. Another study shows that this juice is particularly effective in inhibiting the onset and spread of prostate and breast cancer.
Good for Kidneys
Sugarcane juice contains a large amount of protein, making it ideal for optimal kidney function. Furthermore, it is naturally alkaline and serves as a perfect antibiotic agent. When diluted (mixed with water or coconut water), it effectively alleviates pain and burning sensations often experienced during urinary tract infections.
Studies show that drinking sugarcane juice with lemon and coconut water helps reduce burning sensations in the urinary tract due to sexually transmitted diseases, urinary infections, kidney stones, and prostatitis.
Sugarcane juice also boosts immunity, aids digestion, prevents morning sickness, provides essential vitamins and minerals for the fetus, and beautifies the skin.
In addition to these benefits, sugarcane juice also has the following harms:
Harms of Sugarcane Juice
Although it offers many benefits, it is important to consume sugarcane juice properly. Do not drink too much even when very thirsty; it is recommended to stay under 240 ml per day (about two cups). It is best to consume it immediately after extraction and not to leave sugarcane juice out for too long, as it can easily become contaminated.
Quick Weight Gain
According to scientific research, sugar constitutes 70% of the nutrients in sugarcane juice, with the rest being fats, proteins, and starch. Therefore, sugarcane juice provides a lot of energy and nutrients, which can easily lead to weight gain and obesity. Those looking to lose weight should limit this drink.
Those looking to lose weight should limit this drink.
Stomachache and Diarrhea
Due to its cooling properties and high sugar content, individuals with weak constitutions may experience stomach aches and diarrhea from excessive consumption.
Susceptibility to Infections
The hygiene of sugarcane, juicing machines, and drinking cups is often not properly maintained, making sugarcane juice susceptible to contamination, adversely affecting the digestive system, and potentially causing poisoning, which can be life-threatening.
Avoid When Taking Certain Medications
The policosanol in sugarcane juice helps lower bad cholesterol levels in the body, preventing cardiovascular diseases.
However, if you are taking supplements or anticoagulants, you should avoid sugarcane juice, as these medications can hinder the effects of policosanol, rendering its benefits ineffective.
Do Not Drink Stale Sugarcane Juice
If sugarcane juice is left out for too long or stored under poor conditions, it provides a favorable environment for harmful microorganisms to develop, potentially leading to infection and poisoning.
Additionally, sugarcane juice has a cooling property and high sugar content, so if stored too long in the refrigerator, it may cause digestive disorders. Therefore, it is best to consume freshly pressed sugarcane juice; older juice should be avoided.
Avoid Excessive Consumption During Pregnancy
According to nutrition experts, pregnant women need to supplement a variety of nutrients from different food sources, while the basic component of sugarcane juice is sugar. Excessive sugar intake during pregnancy can increase the risk of gestational diabetes, which can adversely affect the health of both mother and baby.
Diabetic Patients Should Avoid Sugarcane Juice
Sugarcane juice is extremely sweet, containing about 70% sugar; therefore, diabetic patients should avoid it to maintain stable blood sugar levels.
Individuals with Weak Intestines, Bloating, or Diarrhea Should Limit Sugarcane Juice
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, sugarcane juice is considered cooling and has very high sugar content. Therefore, individuals with weak intestines, frequent bloating, or diarrhea should not consume it, as it can exacerbate their condition.
It is also advisable for healthy individuals not to drink too much sugarcane juice as it can lead to weight gain and obesity. The recommended dosage for consuming sugarcane juice is between 100 to 200 ml, ideally in the afternoon.
